Suspect in theft of half a million tala flees

The search for half a million tala allegedly stolen from the country’s biggest private employer is heading overseas.

This was confirmed by the Spokesperson for the Police, Maotaoali’i Kaioneta.

He said a former employee of Yazaki Eds Samoa Limited accused of taking the money has fled the country.

The suspect is believed to be moving between New Zealand and Australia.

“We have extended our investigation working with the authorities overseas,” said Maotaoali’i.

“We cannot confirm exactly where the suspect is but we are continuing our investigation.”

Asked how the suspect could have gone through Immigration without being stopped, the Spokesperson explained that there are reasons for that.

“It depends on how quick it was in identifying and confirming the allegation,” he said.

“The quicker it’s reported to police the faster we get on to the investigation.

“In most cases the activities have been done for years and they had only found out in the following year.”

Maota also urged for companies and organisations to monitor their systems so they can identify theft at its earliest and report them. The close to half a million was alleged to have been misappropriated by a senior accounts officer in March last year. The employee was sacked following an internal investigation.

A similar incident happened three years ago where another employee of Yazaki allegedly stole a sum of US$100,000 (T$230,000).